British intelligence explains how Russia can use events in Belgorod region to its advantage

The British Ministry of Defense shared its report on Twitter. 

British intelligence notes that between May 19 and 22, Russian security forces clashed with guerrillas in at least three places in the Belgorod region, near the Ukrainian border. The guerrillas' identities remain unconfirmed, but the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion, which oppose Putin's regime, have claimed responsibility.

Analysts emphasize that the most serious incident occurred near the town of Grayvoron. Along with small arms fire near the incident sites, there was an increase in the number of drone attacks. Russians were forced to evacuate residents of several villages and deploy additional security forces to the area.

"Russia is facing an increasingly serious multi-domain security threat in its border regions, with losses of combat aircraft, improvised explosive device attacks on rail lines, and now direct partisan action. Russia will almost certainly use these incidents to support the official narrative that it is the victim in the war," the British intelligence concluded. 

• On May 22, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) and Freedom of Russia Legion (LSR)  announced that they had liberated the settlements of Kozinka and Gora-Podol in Russia’s Belgorod region as part of the creation of a demilitarized zone on the border with Russia, and advanced units entered Grayvoron. A counterterrorism operation was introduced in the region and nuclear munitions are being evacuated.

• Late in the evening of May 22, Russian media reported that administrative buildings in Belgorod, including the FSB and the Interior Ministry, had been hit by drones, and that administrative buildings in Grayvoron and Borisovka had been hit by drones.